How to Save Money: Organization is Key!

If you’re just now joining us towards lowering your monthly budget, make sure to read the first 20 tips!

21 :: Keep those Receipts
I keep every receipt that we get – whether it’s for gas, grocery or drugstores.  I keep my receipts in separate envelopes dated by month.  You never know when a rebate will pop up for something you purchased.  All rebates I have seen require original sales receipts along with their rebate sheet.  So make sure to keep your receipts divided by month {I simply use the envelopes for the bills that I pay online – it’s easy, simple and cheap!} so that they are quick and easy to find whenever I need them for a rebate.  I’ve received well over $50 in rebates just these past few months.  It’s worth it to keep them handy!

22 :: Track your spending habits
I first began doing this in order to create a budget for our family.  I needed to first see where our money was going and then see where we could cut things.  My husband sat down and created me an Excel document that I can enter all of my grocery trips into to track my savings and spending.  I then created a document to track all of our bills, etc.  I’ll be sharing more about this later!

23 :: Write out a Budget – and stick to it!
Once we knew where our money was going and what areas we could cut back on, my husband and I sat down and wrote out a budget for ourselves.  It takes a few months of adjustment to really stick to it and, I’ll be honest, sometimes we don’t!  Sometimes we may spend a little more and sometimes we spend less.  The point is to have a general budget so you limit yourself on how much you buy.  Creating a budget is a wonderful way to be able to not only save more, but be more creative in your shopping trips!

24 :: Stay Organized
It’s easy to let receipts, rebates and tracking your monthly spending and savings go.  Make sure to keep your receipts organized where you can easily find them – you might not like my system for organizing receipts. No two people are alike, so find the organization method that best fits you and your needs and stick to it!

25 :: Write it Down
When I see a sales item at a particular store and I want to make sure I remember to purchase it – I write it down.  I also write down the coupon value that I will be using along with the sale.  This helps me to keep a tally of how much I will be spending each trip.  I’m pretty forgetful so, if you’re like me, writing it down will be a lifesaver for you!

{Photo Credit: moneysavingtips}